Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-28
ter-deck not in uniform or orthodox flannel and
straight-ytsored cap.

straightforward cap.
THE YACHTS ARE OFF.
1t was half past noon and the sun and tide had
both turned before the wind warranted a start.
Bang" went the Electra's gun, her signal flags
nuttered, her launch made vain efforts TO clear
away the last tug and the yachts were OF. Down
they came to the line, wind abeam on the port
tack, the Volunteer BY q neat turn and quick Iib-
ing on the weather quarter OF the Thistle and
crossing just behind in time and just 100 yards or
so better in place. The Thistle crossed at l2.3o6
and the Volunteer at 12.:A5Sk. The day was now
all that day could be- and shadows along the
water showed how near the growing breeze was.
For moment the Thistle pulled f AWAY from the
to the wind, and when her tiller brought her a
shade closer there was an ominous shaking In the
lib, while the headsails OF the Volunteer We're pull
ing steadily nearer the wind, which showed,
did all the race, that in lining down his model
the Scotch designer had lost the ability to hold up
to the wind. With shrewd knowledge OF the up
per bay, the Volunteer headed straight for the
breezes which steal down the steep wooded bluffs
deep waters. Catching this. the Volunteer had
gained half mile lead in the first three miles, the
fruit OF skill and Judgment rather than speed
The Thistle, out in the tide, already beginning TO
run. OF the Narrows, lost breeze and Roadway,
made one Intellectual effort 10 GENE about, and
had to give it up, tackled at last without finding
wind, and then stood down the narrowS, badly In
the rear, and making leeway at every mile OF
progress. For An hour from her tack, at l":44
about to go around buoy b. at :33, the Nolun-
teer was able to keep on her course with but one
alteration, due TO shift OF the wind to the south
east, which, like all the changes OF the day,
found
THE THISTLE AT A DIsvANTAGE.
Behind the two racers rushed the great herd
OF steamers. The Narrows are nearly a mile wide,
and from shore to shore, In one great, irregular
swaying line, stretched the concourse OF painting
tugs and moving steamers, dotted with the tall
masts OF the bigger yachts equal to the force OF
these swift sea-dogs Soon the Thistle was lost in
the rushing throng and the VOLUNTEER led alone. A
boat Is beautiful thing when wind and sun unite
to I'LL Its sails with form and its canvas with
radiance: but when the sloping craft, sliding
smooth through separating waters, carries all the
hopes and enthusiasm OF great national contest,
It's tangltng OF glanctng curves OF light and shade
are like glory over the gray sea.
SO the Volunteer sped down the lower bay, the
breeze increasing and hauling farther and farther
TO the eastward. About in a short, sharp bend,
theswtft boat passed around buoy II, made a bend
changing wind and then ran for the Successive
buoys 10 and SO, which must be turned before
the run out to open sea begins The run for the first
boat with her queer stern like a wnaleboat and
ner glossy Rot-lsaded side showing as the wind
only was necessary to round buoy So.
THE THISTLE MAKES A DOUBLE TACK.
Down the same run with the same breeze the
Thistle slipped so far to leeward In the easterly
breeze that double tack was necessary before
buoy 81 could be passed and the way be left clear
to the ocean. For the Volunteer the way was
swift and tree AT buoy 10 the lead OF the early
stages OF the race had already heightened to over
~ minutes volunteer passing at 2:2O:5O and
creased TO 10 minutes IL seconds volunteer pass
1n, 40 30 and Thistle 3:02 10y, thanks to advan-
tages which the Volunteer owed In great measure
10 her superior qualities IN keeping her way by
the wind Her lead, however, was greatest at this
point, and 1T must be remembered that she was
now moving into stronger and stronger brceZes, In
advance or the Thistle, whose rirsJ miShap had
thrown her out OF favorable conditions. From
buoy out around the Sandy Hook lightship and
q nnv Sin hrA.. ,a,na
held her own, II she did not gain The Volunteer
Il minute or two. The lead or the Volunteer was.
race. and good deal OF allowance should be made
for the Iact In estimating the relative speed OF the
Two yachts, as accident had more 10 do with the
race 10 buoy D than the rest OF the way.
WHERE THE VOLUNTEER WON.
The race was won when the Volunteer faced the
short run out to sea for the lightshtp. The wind
had hauld again to the southwest and was mOv-
ing nearer south every moment. Out the yachts
ran, close hauled, the sheets somewhat started on
the return trip, but both ways, whether with the
wind fore or aft OF the beam, the behavior OF the
Volunteer was q sight 70 marvel at. Her turn
about the lfghtship was one OF those swift sharp
bits OF SkflIll steering and Seamanship which the
handling OF these big SoopS in these races has made
familiar, but which no familiarity rob OF its
beauty. To see the white boat as She ran down
the siOping sea on her way back, the level sun
lighting her canvas her whlte-shiried crew clus-
tered like sheep on hillside along her slanting
deck, green mound OF fOamieSS water mounting
and swelling at her counter her sails bent in great
spherical triangeS OF luminous gray and every
sheet frightened Ike harp string. was TO know
the magic and beauty OF the sea. Back she came
to meet in the fast darkening and lonely waste OF
waters about tine Hook cheers and whistle, shouts
and waving handkerchtefS as she passed one buoy
after another. the wind drawing steadily astern
and speeding her on her way.
WHEN THE VOLUNTEER TURNED AT THE IIGHTsHIP
the working jib topsail had been replaced by a
medium large t1b topsail, somewhat short OF a
balloon, and the foresall by balloon foresai, the
4
larger surface than ballon jib and aiding on the
bend down past and around buoy 81. The Thistle
put out similar Sails. but replaced her working
jib topsail by balloon Jib topsail, which probably
accounted for portion OF her progress. She turned
the nghuship almost alone, three miles behind her
rival a vague shadowy file OF canvas just touched
by the sun as she t..rned on her keel like q snowy
mountain top. From this point back she followed
the same course and carried the same sails as her
rival. The home stretch for the Volunteer began
when the white boat turned buoy 10 and began
the long course up the bay. Around she went
ram ram out. iiteen men on the Sheet easing I tbe
swift run OF the huge sail and boom;
down went the spinnaker boom like skeleton
finger; up from the hatch came the long bundle or
saii-clOth, and then 1t broke out into IL great.
tawny cloud Of beauty. The wind came, fresh and
moist, from the sea behind; chill Iell on the air,
the hills turned purple as great golden bars
crossed the shaking sun. The great pyramid OF
canvas sped on in the fading light, soft and round
! and full. ANA about and around hung the great
cloud OF witnesses Of this new triumph Of AIneri-
can skill, They filled the clustering steamers
they blackened the sloping h1llsideS, and they
swarmed in boats. The Volunteer glided over the
line smooth stately, unruied, winner in the first
race for the cup.
The next race in the SERIES which is best two
out OF three, will be the 2O-mile thrash to wind
ward Thursday.
What the ScOtCllmen Say.
THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT, But THE EXCURSION
BOATS HAMPEkED THEN.
Mr.. Bell and Capt. Barr were interviewed imme-
diately after the race, just the Thistle dropped
anchor In the harbor on Tompkinsvilie. Mr.. Bell
said: II merely think that we are beaten; might
say badly beaten have never, In all her races,
seen the Thistle sail so badly. Something ap-
peared to hamper her, as though she had clog on
her bottom I am satisfied, however, that We
could not have won, even with the Thistle at her
best, as we were badly handicapped by wind and
tide. The Volunteer had wind and tide largely In
her favor going down the Narr0ws, while at times
we were almost becaimed. You may say, how
ever that am satisfied II the committee are, and
that will not complain"
Mr.. Belly"
II had rather not say. will leave that for the
The chief ofiicer OF the Mohican said: 81 should
say we were handicapped. As soon as the volun-
teer got in front the whole feet started right after
her, churning and tearing up the water until 1t
was as chopry as channel sea- Is this not true,
Mr.. Bell?"
Mr.. Ben acuuiesced, and added: ''This was not
the worst feature The wind had to come to us
through the spaces between the big boats, and
this made II SO streaky that 1t was hard to tell
lust where the eye Of the wind really was We
did our best under the circumstances and, as